Please see the latest Business Readiness updates below.
CONTENTS
Draft data adequacy decisions pave the way for continued free flow of data between the EU and the UK
The UK government has welcomed the European Commission's draft data adequacy decision which recognises the UK’s high data protections standards and set out that the UK’s standards are ‘adequate’.
Positive data adequacy decisions under both the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Law Enforcement Directive (LED) would allow for personal data to continue to flow freely from the European Union (EU) and wider European Economic Area (EEA) to the UK.
The UK now urges the EU to fulfil its declared commitment to complete the technical approval process swiftly, so that we have final data adequacy decisions as soon as possible. This will provide certainty for businesses. The ‘bridging mechanism’ will remain in place until June 30 or until the adequacy decisions come into effect, whichever is sooner.
Moving Goods
UPDATED: The Goods Vehicle Movement Service: The Goods Vehicle Movement Service is for traders, hauliers and carriers who use a UK Port.
UPDATED: European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) international road haulage permits: Guidance on permits to travel to or through ECMT member countries has been updated. Information about applying for short-term permits has been updated, you can now apply for there for the rest of 2021. For more information, click here.
UPDATED: HMRC newsletter to help traders avoid some problems they may encounter when moving goods under transit: The most recent HMRC newsletter, has been updated with information on ‘French ports with the ‘smart border’ system’. For more information, and to view recent editions of the newsletter, click here.
UPDATED: List of customs agents and fast parcel operators: The list of agents and operators who can help submit customs declarations has been updated. For more information, click here.
Northern Ireland
UPDATED: Trading and moving goods in and out of Northern Ireland by parcel: Guidance has been updated with information about moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland by parcel. This information can be found in the section ‘Moving excise goods’. For more information, click here.
Trade
UPDATED: Trade with Iceland and Norway: Guidance on how you import from, and export to, Iceland and Norway has been updated. For more information, click here.
Business Support Helplines
Brexit transition helplines: A list of government helplines organised by theme and key actions for businesses has been published. To view this, click here.
There are new rules for businesses doing business with the EU from 1 January, and you need to take action now. To help you, a helpline has been set up. For English businesses, the Business Support Helpline can help you identify the actions you need to take. Similar helplines are available for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
For more information for:
businesses in England, call 0800 998 1098
businesses in Scotland, call 0300 303 0660
businesses in Wales, call 0300 060 3000
businesses in Northern Ireland, call 0800 181 4422.
For more information, including opening hours, click here.
All webinars and videos for organisations that trade with the EU can be found here.
Sector-specific guidance
Fishing & Fisheries
NEW: £23 million Seafood Disruption Support Scheme now open: The UK Government has announced the opening of the new £23m Seafood Disruption Scheme. The scheme is available to seafood exporting businesses across the UK that have experienced a verifiable loss in value of their seafood consignment as a result of disruption when exporting to the EU. The scheme will be open for applications until 28 February 2021, further information about eligibility and how to apply can be found here.
